Deep well drilling and coring system



April 2,1935. I

c, WALKER DEEP WELL DRILLING AND CORING SYSTEM Filed May 11, 1932 2 sheets-sneet'l |l'l| lllllllllllllulll'--lll|ll I IN ENTOR MI/Lgw' BY J,

Q/mmwof A TTORNZYS.

I April 2, 1935. c. L. .WALKER 1,996,132

DEEP WEI- L DRILLING AND CURING SYSTEM Filed May 11, 1932 2 Sheets-Shee t 2 INVENTOR.

W wifaw ATTORNEYS.

Patented Apr. 2, 1 935 DEEP WELL DRILLING AND CORING SYSTEM Clinton L. Walker, Piedmont, Calif. Application May H, 1932, Serial No. 610,633

14 Claims.

of apparatus wherein the bits are collapsible whereby they may be installed and removed from the bottom of the drill stem while the stem is in the bore.

In prior practice with this type of drilling tools difliculty and uncertainty as to results have been experienced in getting the tools in position at the bottom of the drill stem and it is obvious that such difficulties might be anticipated when it is apparent that the bottom of the bore and the drill stem may be filled with drilling mud and drill cuttings.

It is, therefore, the principal object of the present invention to provide an improved well drilling apparatus of the character referred to which enables changing of the drilling bits and taking of cores without the necessity of removing the drill string from the well bore and providing positive means for forcing the tools down the drill stem into drilling position.

In practicing the invention, the bit can be run in through the drill string and may be readily connected with the drill stem so that proper weight can be imposed on and proper torque applied thereto through the drilling string to effect the drilling operation. The bits can be readily disconnected from the string and elevated therethrough so that they can be readily replaced if necessary. When my improved system is utilized, there is no necessity of removing the drill string from the bore until the operation is entirely completed and the bore is ready for casing and cementing.

The invention is exemplified in the following description and illustrated by way of example in the accompanying drawings, in which- Fig. 1 is a view in vertical section through a deep well bore disclosing a rotary drill stem disposed therein, with my improved drilling apparatus fitted to the drill stem;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged vertical sectional view through the lower end of the drill stem, disclosing my improved drilling bit connected therewith for operation, and with parts of the bit broken away to disclose more clearly certain features of construction;

Fig. 3-is a view similar to Fig. 2 but disclosingthe bit collapsed and in the position it assumes during the time it is being lowered or elevated through the drill stem; I

Fig. 4 is a transverse sectional view through the drill stem and bit, taken on line IV--IV of Fig. 2;

Fig. 5 is a view in transverse section through the drilling shoe and bit, taken on line V-V of .Fig. 3;

Fig. 6 is a bottom view of the drilling shoe, 5 showing the bit connected therewith; I

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary view in vertical section throughthe lower end of the drilling shoe; showing the manner in which the bit is assembled thereon when the bit is to be used in advanc- 1 ing the well bore; and

Fig. 8 is a bottom view of the apparatus disclosed in Fig. 7.

Referring more particularly to the accompanying drawings, in Fig. l I have illustrated a well 15 bore l0 within which a drill stem or drilling string II is suspended. The upper end'of this drill stem'or drilling string is, in practice, of course, fitted with a kelly bar and operatively connected to a rotary drill table for operation, It is, of go course, also connected witha rotaryhose and draw works, but inasmuch as this is standard practice, it is not illustrated in the drawings. The lower end of the drill stem I l is fitted with what ,I prefer to term a drilling shoe II, the internal 2 diameter or bore of which agrees with the internal diameter of the drill stem proper. At its lower I end the drilling shoe [2 is formed with diametrically opposed slots I4 which extend upwardly from the lower terminal of the shoe. This is most 30 clearly illustrated in Fig. .l.

It should be stated that the drilling apparatus contemplated by my invention'is so constructed and arranged that the bit may be loweredthrough the drilling string l I and be operatively connected 35 to the drilling shoe H, or disconnected from the latter and elevated through the drilling string, without the necessity of removingthe drilling string from the well bore. When the bit is connected to the drilling shoe at the lower end of the 40 drilling string, the connection is such that the weight of the drilling string may beimposed on the bit and torque transmitted from the drilling. string to the bit in order that the drilling operation may be accomplished.

In the drawings I have illustrated a drilling bit apparatus for advancing the bore and for taking a core at anydesired point without the necessity of removing the drill stem II from the bore. This apparatus includes what I prefer to 50 term a coring bit 15, which is formed in four complementary segmental sections, each of which sections is fitted atits lower end. with a blade: IS, the blades being arranged and disposed at apart. The four segments of the I coring bit I form a substantially cylindrical shank, the external curvature of each segment agreeing with the curvature of the interior of substantially oval in cross section area, as illus- I to trated in Fig. 5. Elastic springs H are provided which completely encircle the hollow shank formed by the four segments and normally maine tain.;it contracted, as illustrated in Fig. 5., In this contracted position the entire bit, including the blades I6, will have a transverse dimension less than the interior diameter of the shoe I2,

'80 that the entire bit may be freely raised and lowered through the drill stem i I.

Each segment is provided, at its inner surface, with a longitudinal keyway I8, and the segments are so arranged that these keyways will be disposed90 apart. The interior surface of each segment, at its upper end, is tapered and formed with wickers or serrations, as illustrated in Fig,

3. The tapered bore provided by the tapered interior surface of the upper ends of the four segments, when the latter are in collapsed position, agrees with the taper of the lower end of a cylindrical running-in member or core tube I 9. The tapered lower end of the running-in member or core tube I9 is formed with circumferential wickers 20, agreeing with those, 2I, formed on the inner surfaces of the segments so that when the segments are collapsed, as shown in Fig. 3, the entire coring bit maybe suspended from the coring tube I9. The exterior diameter of the running in member or core .tube I9 is such that when it is projected longitudinaly' through the space centrally of the segments, the bit will be expanded to a position with the external surfaces of the segments in engagement with'the interior surface of the drilling shoe.

It will be noticed that the running-inmemher or core tube I9 is provided'with external longitudinal keys 22 which are spaced 90 apart, so

that when the member I9 is projected into the shank of the coring bit, these keys 22 will engage the key-ways IS in the segments, and as the segments are relatively expanded, they will be maintained at 90 apart and in each other.

the slots I4 and engage the same when the bit is expanded, the interior of the'drilling shoe I2 is formed with a helical slot or groove 24 cut or otherwise formed therein. Two of the segments are provided with a spring pressed dowell 23, which is adapted to engage the helical groove 24 andproperly position the bit in the shoe so that the blades I6 will register with'and project through the slots I in the lower end of. the shoe I2. i .1 I

In the operation of myimproved'drilling apparatus' the bit I5 is lowered through the drilling stem II suspended from the running-in member I9, asjillustrated in Fig. 3. When the bit seats on the internal abutment at the lower end of,

the shoe I2, the core itube I9 will advance rela- V "tively thereto and'willpass through the shank formed by the segments. This relative movement of the running-in member or core tube I9 will j expand the shank against the'action of the elastic encircling springs I'I. As the shank expands,

I "*the blades I6, will project through the slots in the lower end of the shoe and assume the position shown most clearly in Fig. 2. Weight may be imposed on the bit through the abutment between the upperends ofthe blades It and the proper. relation to herein. I

upper ends of the slots I 4; likewise, engagement vof the blades with the slots I4 enables torque to be transmitted from the drilling stem to the bit. It will be noticed from Fig. 2 that the interior surface of the segments'at their lower ends is likewise tapered to conform with thetaper of the lower end of the core tube, or running-in each blade I 6 so that when therunning-in member or core tube I9 reaches its lowermost position, it will be positioned as illustrated in Fig. 2, with its lower terminal spaced at distance above the lower extremity of the blades I6. The blades I6 of the bit are of a radial dimension so that when the drilling apparatus is used to take a core, the blades it will leave unpulverized a circular section of the formation at the center of the bore which will 'pass. upwardly into the core tube I 9 as the drill stem and bit advance through the formation.

When asuflicientcore has been taken, the core tube I9 is elevated. The first upwardmovement of the core tube registers with the interior tapered member I9. It will also be noticed that this taper terminates in a slight shoulder at the interior of upper end-of the shank. At this point the shank I will have contracted sufliciently so that the wickers 2I at the interior of the shank will engage the wickers 1'0v on the tapered lower end of the running-in member or core tube I9. -This contraction of the coring bit will withdraw the blades I6 radially inward sufliciently that they may pass upwardly through the drillingshoe.

It is obvious that further upward movement of the running-in member or core tube I9 will be ac- :companied by elevation of the coring bit through the drilling. stem. The running-in member or core tube I 9, and, the bit I5 maythen be pulled entirely from the bore and the core remaining in the tube I9 may be recovered.

When it isdesired to use my drilling apparatus solely for the purpose of advancing the bore, a pilot or central bit 25 may befitted to the running-in ,member or core tube I 9, as illustrated in Figs. 7 and 8. This pilot orcentral bit 25 is securedto the lower end of the running-in member I9 and is of a diameter that it will fit between the inner edges of the blades I8 and will pulver- .ize the center section of the formation undisturbed by the blades I5. I When using the pilot bit 25, no core will be recovered.

The operation of lowering the bit I5=when using the pilot or central bit 25 and operatively connectingthe bit assembly to the drilling stem II and disconnecting it from the drilling stem and removing the bit assembly from the bore is exactly the same as that just previously described From theforegoing it is manifest that I have provided a drilling system and drilling equipmentfiwhich enable, rapid advance of the well bore and whichenable the taking of a core at any desired point without the necessity of re-- -m0val-.o f: thedri1l stem'from the bore. I It should also be pointed outthat as the blades become dull,

the bit may be changedexpeditiously without the necessity of removing the entire drill stem from -the well bore. This; of course, expedites the drilling and coring, operations and enables, the well bore to be advanced far more rapidly than can be accomplished by prior methods.

While I havedisclosedthe preferred form of my invention, it is to be understood that various departing from the spirit of the invention .as defined in the appended claims. 7

Having thus described my invention, what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patentis: 1. A drilling apparatus including ahollow drill stem, a collapsible coring bit, a core tube for use in connection with the bit, cooperating means on the coring bit and tube enabling the bit to be run in on the tube and then expanded by operation of the tube and collapsed and withdrawn from the stem by operation of the tube.

2. A drilling apparatus comprising a drill stem, a contractile coring bit, a core tube for use in connection with the bit, cooperating means on the tube and bit enabling the bit to be suspended from' the tube in a contracted condition and runin through the stem and then expanded by operation of the tube, and means on the stem and bit form ing a weight and torque transmitting connection between the bit and stem.

3. A drilling apparatus comprising a hollow drill stem, a collapsible coring bit, a core tube for use in connection with the bit, cooperating means on the tube and bit enabling the bit tobe suspended from the tube in a collapsed condition and run in through the stem and then expanded by operation of the tube into operative position relative to the stem, saidcooperating means enabling collapsing of the bit and its withdrawal from the stem by operation of the tube.

4. An apparatus of the character described including a drillstem, a collapsible coring bit, a core tube for use in connection with the bit, spring means incorporated in'the coring bit constantly tending to collapse the same, cooperative means on the tube and bit enabling suspension of the latter from the tube in collapsed condition whereby it may be run in through the stem, said cooperative means causing expansion of the bit into drilling position relative to the stem upon movement of the tube in one direction relative to the bit and collapsing of the bit upon opposite movement of the tube relative to the bit.

5. An apparatus of the character described including a drill stem, a collapsible coring bit, a core tube for use in connection with thelbit, spring means incorporated in the coring bit constantly tending to collapse the same, cooperative means on the tube and bit enabling suspension of the latter from the tube in collapsed condition whereby it may be run in through the stem, said cooperative means causing expansion of the bit into drilling position relative to the bit and collapsing of the bit upon opposite movement of the tube relative to the bit, and means on the bit and stem forming a weight and torque transmitting connection between the bit and stem when the bit is expanded, said connection releasing when the bit is collapsed.

. 6. A drilling apparatus comprising a hollow drill stem, a collapsible coring bit, a core tube for use in connection with the bit, said bit being segmental, spring means normally maintaining the bit collapsed, complementary means on the tube and bit forming a connection between the tube and the bit when the latter is collapsed,

other means on the tube and the bit whereby downward movement of the tube relative to the bit will expand the bit to a drilling position relative to the stem and position the core tube relative thereto to receive a core, movement of the tube in the opposite direction relative to the bit enabling collapsing dfi the bit and reestablishing .of the connection between the bit and tube by said complementary meansi 7. 'A drilling apparatus including a drillstem,

, a collapsible coring bit, a core tubefor use in connection with. the bit, said bit being capable of be- .ingpassed through the drill stem when in collapsed position, said bit being'segmental, spring means normally maintaining said bit collapsed, complementary wickers on the tube and bit forming a connection between the tube and bit efl'ec- .tive only when a separating pull is exerted on ,the tube and bit when the bit'is collapsed, complementary tapered surfaces on the tube and bit whereby downward movement of the tube rela-- tive to the bit will expand the latter-to drilling position relative to the stem and position the core tube to receive a core, movement of the tube in the opposite direction relative to the-bit enabling collapsing of the bit and reestablishing engagement between said complementary wickers to enable the bit to be withdrawn through the stem by means of the tube.

8. A drilling apparatus including a drill stem a collapsible coring bit,acore tube for use in connection with the bit, said bit being capable of being passed through the drill stem when in collapsed position, said bit being segmental, spring means normally maintaining saidbit collapsed, complementary wickers on the tube and bit forming a connectionbetween the tube and bit efiective only when a separating pull is exerted on the tube and bit when the bit is collapsed, complementarytapered surfaces on the'tube and bit whereby downward movement of the tube relative to the bit will expand the latter to drilling position relative to the stem and position the core tube to receive a core,

movement of the tube in the opposite direction relative to the bit enabling collapsing of the" bit and reestablishing engagement between said c'omplementary wickers to enable the bit tube withdrawn through the stem by means of the tube, and

means on the bit and drill stem establishing a v weightand torque transmitting connection between the bit and stem when-the former is ex; panded in operative position relative to the stem.

9. A drilling apparatus including a hollow drill stem and a segmental collapsible coring bit adapt- Y ed to being passed through the drill stem'and then be expanded into drilling engagement with the drill stem, and means for collapsing and retracting said coring bit from the drill stem, said engaging and disengaging means being under control of the operator at the surface while the drill stem remains in the bore.

10. A drilling apparatus comprising a hollow drill stem, a contractile coring bit, a core tube for use in connection with the bit, and cooperating means on the bit and tube whereby the bit may be expanded by operation of the tube and collapsed by operation of the tube.

11. An apparatus of the character described including a drill stem, a collapsible bit, a mandrel tor use in connection .with the bit, spring means -incorporated in the bit constantly tendso I 4 the bit is expanded, said connection releasing when the bit is collapsed.

12. A drilling apparatus comprising a hollow drill stem, a collapsiblebit, a mandrel for use in connectionwith the bit, said bit being segmental,

spring means normallymaintaining the bit collapsed, complementarv means on the mandrel and bitforming a connection between the mandrel and the bit when the latter is collapsed, -other' means on the mandrel and the bit whereby'downward movement of the mandrel relative to the bit will expand the bit to a drilling position relae tive to the stem and movement ofthe mandrel in the opposite direction relative to the bit en abling collapsing of the'bit and reestablishing of the connection between the bit and mandrel by said complementary means.

' 13. A drilling apparatus including a drill stem,

' a collapsible bit, a mandrel for use in connection with the bit, said 'bit'bing capable of being passed through the drill stem when 'in collapsedposition, said bit being segmental, spring means'ncrmallymaintaining said bit collapsed, complemandrel m the opposite direction relative to the bit enabling collapsing of the bit and reestablishing engagement between said complementary wickers to enable the bit to be withdrawn through the stem by means of the mandrel. I Y

14. Adrilling apparatus including a drill stem, 9. collapsible bit, a mandrel for use in connection with the bit, said bit being capableof being passed through the drill stem when in collapsed position, said bit being segmental, spring means nor-- mally maintaining .said bit collapsed, complementary wickers on the mandrel'and bit forming a connection between the mandrel and bit effective only when a separating pull is exerted on the mandrel and bit when the bit is collapsed, complementarytapered surfaces on the mandrel and bit whereby downward movement of the mandrel relative to the bit will expand the latter to, drilling position relative to the stem and movement of the mandrel in the opposite direction relative to the bit enabling collapsing of the bit and reestablishing engagement between said complementary wickrsto enable, the bit to be withdrawn through the stem by means of the man drel, and-means on the bit and drill stem establishing a'weight and torque transmitting conmotion between the bit and stem when the former is expanded in operative position relative to thestem.

CLINTON L. WALKER. 

